NASCAR weekend quotes from Auto Club Speedway

“Everybody, for the longest time, compared (Auto Club Speedway) to Michigan and they were not even close to the same. They are entirely opposite. Michigan has been repaved and this is the old worn-out California, which it never was. It’s a fun race track now, and the most fun it’s ever been in my career of being here for 12 years. I look forward to it.” — Ryan Newman

“I’m excited to get here to California. It’s my home state. I grew up about six hours north of here so it’s a little bit of a home race for me. So I’m really looking forward to it. I’m hoping we have two good runs again.” — Kyle Larson

“Yeah this is a good track for us. It would be great to get the win and get ourselves locked in to the Chase. But I think we are in a good spot, we’ve been very competitive. We have had a shot to win a couple of races. — Jimmie Johnson

“I wish I was racing the Cup race this weekend because I love that style of racing (cars slipping and sliding). In the Nationwide cars, we are still going to have those issues. As you cross seams, you are going to lose handling. That is why the line moves up as the race goes on and you see guys running the top. — Trevor Bayne

“Obviously, Fontana is a place where I have been looking forward to returning to. We were leading the race on the last lap last year, and never made it to the finish. The accident happened and I missed a few races, but I think I’m a better driver because of it and a better person because of it. Being forced out of the car with the injury really gave me some perspective. Every driver obviously wants to win every race they are in, but this one means a little bit more to me. I would love another chance to be out front on the last lap, and this time, finish it off.” — Denny Hamlin

“To come here to one of my favorite race tracks, it has to be one of the most fun tracks to drive on the circuit because of the way the pavement has aged and the tire you can slide the car around quite a bit. We are just working on our Subway Ford and hoping we can get another victory this weekend.” — Carl Edwards